The Easy Yoke - A Devotional

Updated on June 5, 2015

Come as you are!

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matt. 11:28-30

Come as you are

These are such comforting words, aren’t they? Jesus is talking about those who are burdened. But from what? Life’s sorrows, pains, unbearable circumstances? He does give us rest when we seek Him in those times, but Jesus is talking about legalistic religious people and sinners striving to obey every commandment so they can earn His favor. I would say that is a heavy burden, indeed!

How many of us, before we turned to Christ, believed good works and perfection were necessary before God would accept us? What needless striving! Jesus does not expect people to be perfect before coming to Him. He died in our place and declared us righteous when we surrendered our lives to Him. He wants man to come to Him as is, sinful, flawed, and imperfect, hungry for the love and acceptance of the Savior. It is then that He can begin the work of transforming us from the inside out. Each day as we grow, we become more like Him.

To the burdened, burned-out servant

Jesus tells us in these verses to take His yoke upon us and learn from Him. A yoke is a device worn by oxen that couples them to work together. It keeps the lead ox from bearing the entire burden. Christ is asking people to come to Him, and accept yoke. As we take up His yoke we‘re not bearing the entire burden ourselves. He is there to bear the burden with us. In verse 30 He says, “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Although the opening verse could be meant for the religious and unrepentant, I believe that His words also apply to the burdened, burned-out servant of God as much. Hudson Taylor writes:

"To every toiling, heavy-laden sinner, Jesus says, 'Come to me and rest'. But there are many toiling, heavy-laden believers, too. For them this same invitation is meant. Note well the words of Jesus, if you are heavy-laden with your service, and do not mistake it. It is not, 'Go, labor on,' as perhaps you imagine. On the contrary, it is stop, turn back, 'Come to me and rest.' Never, never did Christ send a heavy laden one to work; never, never did He send a hungry one, a weary one, a sick or sorrowing one, away on any service. For such the Bible only says, 'Come, come, come.'"

Source

Have you taken His yoke upon you?

Grace through faith = rest.

Paul told the Galatian's who had turned back to the law, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage." Gal. 5:1. Did you catch the kind of yoke he mentioned? Bondage! That's what Jesus meant by burdened. Notice Paul tells them “Christ has made us free...” He also uses the word "liberty.'" He's saying the same thing Jesus was saying only using different words. Jesus' yoke is easy, giving freedom from the burden and bondage of do-it-yourself salvation, which doesn't work.

It all boils down to grace and faith. Working for God's favor is law - burden and bondage - not grace. "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God" Ephesians 2:8

If you are someone seeking God's favor and acceptance, accept the gift of God's grace by placing your faith and your soul in Jesus. If you are a weary, burdened, servant of the Lord, take up His yoke and find rest.

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Comments 10 comments

Thanks for your inspiring hub, lambservant. As believers, it's liberating to know that it is not about toiling and struggling to be perfect, but the complete work of Christ on the Cross. Then we can be truly free from the bondage of performance as we stand in faith in Christ. I love Ephesians 2:8!

lifegate 2 years ago from Pleasant Gap, PA

Good Morning LS,

Thanks for the encouragement. We all need to be reminded that it is Christ in us who is doing the work. Sometimes my own worst enemy is me - thinking it's all up to me, and that is what the Bible calls S I N returning us to the yoke of bondage again. Thanks for making my day!

Ericdierker 2 years ago from Spring Valley, CA. U.S.A.

Well done. Living Grace is awesome.

billybuc 2 years ago from Olympia, WA

Forgiveness....acceptance...unconditional love....where would I be without those? Lovely words this morning my friend.

MsDora 2 years ago from The Caribbean

Thank you for re-issuing the invitation. I wouldn't survive without His help with my burdens.

Tamarajo 2 years ago from Southern Minnesota

Thank you for this timely devotion. So very fitting and applicable. I especially appreciate your clarification about what is meant by burden in the context of the surrounding verses that have to do with trying to get to God through the endless and impossible expectations and rules of the religious rulers.

Faith Reaper 2 years ago from southern USA

Beautiful truth you have written of here precious Sister in Christ! His yoke is easy indeed. I hear so often, sadly, over and over, that those who do not yet have that personal and intimate relationship with Christ, say that they are waiting until they clean up a bit, but He is ready to accept us just as we are! Wow, He is love and I am so glad He accepts me as I am, and that He is not finished with me yet!

I cannot imagine one day without my sweet Lord in my life.

Up and more and sharing.

God bless you. In His Love Always,

Faith Reaper

North Wind 2 years ago from The World (for now)

Hello ls,

I think that everyone has some sort of yoke that they carry. We all carry the yoke of sin. Jesus' yoke is free from sin and so it is easier to carry because it does not carry the sentence that comes along with sin.

Jesus' yoke is a yoke that the carrier is glad to carry. It is one that He approves of and has given to us. It is one that we are entrusted with.

manatita44 2 years ago from london

A wonderful and logical Hub with some pretty powerful quotes. Higher blessings.

lambservant 2 years ago from Pacific Northwest Author

manatita44, thanks for stopping by. I am thankful you found a blessing here.